No, they didn't!!

I always get so sad when I hear moms say things like: "Having kids ruined my body!!" Says who???? The world? Yes, the world says that. The world is dead wrong, that is for certain. The world has no eternal perspective whatsoever. The world is very visual and only focuses on that. The world teaches you to be self-centered, for the most part. The world tells us as women that we are supposed to look like we did in high school forever more and we aren't supposed to age at all. Nuts. Just nuts. All of it!! I had a cousin, who had her first baby a year ago or so, post on fb the very thing I quoted above. It made me sad. I replied that I try to say that having kids "completed" my body. Because it did. It is all I have ever wanted. What a gift, and a trial (LOL) they are. I can't say they "ruined" my body. To me that would be so ungrateful to a loving father in heaven that gave them to me. My body is different since having my four kids, and some pregnancies that never made it all the way. My tummy is so not flat. I am bigger than when I got married. Everywhere!! LOL! Ok. So, does it bother me? Sometimes. Can I do something about it? I can do more, probably. But when I start feeling yucky about my body, I realize those thoughts are NOT from the Lord. Do I eat right? Most of the time. Do I exercise regularly? Yes, I do. Audrey gets me outta bed at 5am for a bottle and when she goes back to sleep, I strap on my ankle weights and go for a walk outside for a good 30 minutes. It clears my mind. I love mornings. Then sometimes I even come back home and do some sit-ups and push-ups. Is it enough to make my body "pretty" to the world. Probably not. Ok, for sure NOT. But, we all have things we do during the day and that is all the time I am currently putting in for exercise. But, as I think about how my character has changed since having kids, now that is something amazing. Being a mother teaches you selflessness in a way that you would not get any other way. Don't you agree? It starts with being pregnant and goes on and on. Every minute of your day is spent serving and loving those that have been given to you. Why doesn't the world ever talk about that? What about all the skills you learn from being a mother: finding missing toys ALL day long, changing diapers lightening fast, making a mean pot of mac and cheese, teaching your child to read, loving, encouraging and being there for your kids, and on and on. There are soooo many wonderful things that change in you from having kids, so don't ever think having kids "ruined" you. Mothers are beautiful, whatever they look like. So, when you get tempted to say "My kids ruined my body" don't say it. Say "They completed me" instead! ((hugs)) to all the moms out there!